Pep Guardiola says Manchester City are still the team to beat despite trailing third
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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (left) and Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola during the 0-0 English Premier League draw.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insisted his team are the ones to beat in the tightest English Premier League race for years, even though they remain third in the standings following a goal-less draw with rivals Arsenal on March 31.
City had scored in 47 straight league games at the Etihad Stadium before Arsenal’s mighty defensive effort on March 31.
Mikel Arteta’s side held them goal-less at the Etihad for the first time in the league since they were beaten 2-0 by Crystal Palace in October 2021.
The draw allowed Liverpool to go top of the table on 67 points with nine games remaining, while Arsenal are second on 65, a point ahead of Guardiola’s reigning champions.
When asked who is the current best side, Guardiola said: “Man City,” then added: “Your reaction, you don’t agree?”
“We would not be here. Semi-finals of FA Cup, quarter-finals of Champions League and fighting against Liverpool and Arsenal.”
Guardiola pointed to more parity in the EPL than in recent years, including last season, when City pulled away from Arsenal down the stretch to win by five points. Manchester United were a distant third with 75.
“When you see Liverpool play, I said we cannot (go) 10 points in front, when I see Arsenal play, we cannot (go) 16 points in front. They are really good,” he said.
“Jurgen (Klopp) and Mikel (Arteta) with the teams are exceptional. But still we are there.”
“So do we want to win? Yeah. We play to win? Yeah. We created more chances (on Sunday)? No. They created a lot? No. So it was a tight game, yes. It was a battle, yes,” added the Spaniard, who had appointed Arteta as an assistant coach at City when he took charge in 2016.
City have taken only four points off top-five teams this season, compared to 16 last season.
Arteta, meanwhile, was happy his title-chasing team managed to stop Manchester City from scoring at the Etihad but frustrated that they did not convert chances to regain top spot.
He said: “Very tough match against a very demanding opponent. We defended really well. We were really good...
“The first time they haven’t scored at home in three years.
“The downside is that we had some big situations to score and didn’t make the most of it... No way can you be fully happy.”
Former City striker Gabriel Jesus, in particular, had two great opportunities but sent the ball wide both times, then missed a tantalising cross from Bukayo Saka.
“You want to win the game, you prepare to win it. If we don’t win it, make sure we draw it. You have to continue to make steps as a team and try to improve, and today we’ve done that,” said Arteta, whose team lost 4-1 in the league at the Etihad last season but won this season’s earlier encounter in London.
“They are the best team in the world in my opinion by far… and we have to catch up and try to be better than them.” REUTERS
